Alva Review-Courier -

Perhaps the Alva Goldbugs were tired after the fast-paced win against Chandler on Thursday or perhaps they're not fully recovered from the illness that struck earlier in the week. Whatever the reason, the Goldbugs just didn't seem to have their usual energy as they took on Cascia Hall Friday in the second round of area games at Enid. Alva met and defeated the Bulldogs 46-44 in the first round of regionals, but this time was a different story.

Cascia Hall jumped out to a 10-2 lead, and the Goldbugs couldn't catch up, trailing 17-8 in the first quarter. At halftime, Cascia Hall had widened the gap to 14, leading 28-14. The Goldbugs fought hard in the third, scoring 19 points but the Bulldogs retained a three-point advantage at 39-33. In the final period, Alva again made 19 points, but Cascia Hall had 20 and won 59-52.

During the first quarter, Daylon Malone kept Alva in the game with his six points off a basket, a trey and a free throw. Kyler Penco hit one basket on a put-back, but the Bulldogs scored 17 points to lead 17-8.

Seeing the danger in Malone, the Bulldogs kept him away from the basket in the second quarter, sending him to the foul line where he made a perfect four of four. Jaxon Jones led off the quarter with a basket, but those six points were all the Goldbugs would manage. Cascia Hall led 28-14 at halftime.

The Goldbugs are good at third-quarter comebacks, but the deficit was too large. Malone led Alva with ten points in the quarter, including a trey, three baskets and a free throw. Weston Tucker hit two baskets and Lantz Mathers one. Phillip Randall made good on one free throw. Meanwhile, Cascia Hall added 11 points and held a six point lead at 39-33 at the end of the third period.

Desiree Morehead

Senior Phillip Randall (20) catches the rebound before the Cascia defense could.

The Goldbugs continued to fight in the fourth quarter, pulling within five points of the lead. Malone was kept away from the basket, but he made good on a trey and four foul shots. Randall hit two baskets, and Tucker made one. Penco added a basket and two free throws while Aiden Ruiz made one foul shot. In the end, the Bulldogs won 59-52 to continue in the area playoffs.

Wrap-Up

The Goldbugs end their season with 23-5 record. Malone led Alva in scoring with 28 points followed by Penco with eight. Tucker has six points while Randall had five. Jones and Mathers each scored two points, and Ruiz added one.

For Cascia Hall, Jyson Kim led with 13 points followed by Drake Jarrett with ten and Kam Burris with nine. Daniel Jarrett and Mason Shiflet had eight points each. Cross Carter and Jake Rampe scored four apiece, and Tyce Berman had three.